unterhausen

I have found that as far as maximizing passing distance goes, having a bike frame sideways on the rear rack works pretty well. They don't want to scratch their paint

squirtdad

How about a chainsaw and a hockey mask? might be even more effective

I-Like-To-Bike

IMO, the next level for rear light safety on busy high speed roads is adding additional height to the rear lights so that that the lights are not obstructed by the first car following the bicyclist. A dozen lights mounted at the same relatively low vertical height obstructed by a tailgating auto are no better that one light at that height.

Gothic Sunshine

It is as weird to ride as it looks? Feels like the light pole would wobble.

lopek77

There is always a story behind every "strange" thing. I used to own a lighting store over 20 years ago. The lady came, bought a light bulb, and asked me to go with her to her house to install it. She said she will return this bulb if I'm not willing to help her. I explained her that we don't do house calls, and she started crying when she saw one of my employees laughing at that comically looking situation.
She told us the story. Her family owned huge chicken farm, and her father and brother were killed when changing the light bulb in the heat lamps...
I changed that bulb for her, and that situation also changed the way I look at things in my life. Sometimes obvious looking things are far from being obvious.

These lights looks like a huge overkill, and are funny for sure. I hope it will work for him and will keep him safe. Better 10, than none I guess...

LeeG

Well said, for those who haven't experienced a debilitating accident or come to cycling from a condition of less than average sight or hearing and really do not want to lose what they have it may well be a reasonable response.

It's certainly more practical than touring with panniers on 23mm tires.

Worknomore

Maybe he's headed to Burning Man

ItsJustMe

Well, that's not much different than what a lot of us did 10 years ago. My first light was an MR16 hooked to a 12v lead acid cell, and a lot of people here did the same, it was pretty common back before LEDs actually got bright enough to see by.

ItsJustMe

I've been thinking about that for the route I'm going to be forced into next year. I'm thinking a light up high enough that the car BEHIND the car behind me can see it. I see too many cases of a car coming up behind me and swerving around me at the last moment, and the car behind him didn't know I was there until that moment. If he wasn't paying attention just then it could be bad. Having an up high light might give a lot more time to react. I ride with a taillight on my helmet now.

I-Like-To-Bike

You have stated the exact reason why I used the PVC pole with high mounted lights, the last minute lane changer who leaves a previously unseen bicyclist suddenly exposed to the cars car following the lane swerver. Helmet height for rear facing light is good, even higher is better.

asmac

I was thinking of a nice carbon fibre wand covered in reflective material sticking out three feet and tipped with both a light and tungsten carbide point. Put some bite in the bark.

I-Like-To-Bike

Weirdnessin lighting setups may not be desired by style conscious poseurs but, the "Weirdness" was a positive safety asset for a bicyclist riding on dark highways, as no motorist could ignore it.

It did sway left and right about 15°, and the side to side motion made a fantastic light display while I rode to work to and from work in complete darkness on 55mph highways. I eventually had to stay the pole with bungee cords because the swaying was wrecking the basket on which the pole was mounted.

rumrunn6

it screams "DON'T KILL ME!" I wonder if he's ever been hit.

when I started out I used a bike flag for reasons mentioned above about height of warning devices

I-Like-To-Bike

No, riding to work for an hour starting at 5AM and returning beginning at 5:30PM (darkness in the winter) on 55mph road without a rideable shoulder that typically had traffic as below.

genec

I used a setup like this with a flashing strobe on the top... The strobe was hard to maintain however, and ultimately I dropped the idea as better blinky type lighting became available.

I still strongly believe that a steady light with a high (helmet) and low (seat post) flasher system works for best visibility. That high/low combination just looks different from anything else... thus attracts attention.

I-Like-To-Bike

No nothing so hyperbolic, it said here I am, far down the road, or in front of the car ahead, change lanes now or adjust speed in order to pass safely as traffic clears.

No "he" was never hit in 7 years of all weather, all season commuting that 55mph road (six miles of the 12 each way mile commute). After changing job location "he" removed the light setup since it was no longer necessary for the commute.

Shimagnolo

When I was a teenager working in a gas station, some dude came in one night on a Harley Davidson Electraglide with a massive amount of lights on it. IIRC, I counted about 24 tail lights. I think he was trying to make it "pretty", as opposed to be worried about safety.

I-Like-To-Bike

Probably so, few Harleys are ridden at less than the speed limit or speed of the motorized traffic flow on high speed highways. Getting hit from the rear while riding at 15mph, by vehicles at highway speed is probably not the concern of most, if any motorcycle riders.

kickstart

Speaking from experience, the issues that a raised light and/or enhanced visibility helmet addresses are basically the same for motorcycles and bicycles, its the circumstances where they are most effective that's different.
I won't presume to say where the line of excess lays, but some motorcyclists bikes, like the cyclists bicycle shown in the OP, clearly indicate issues other than visibility are at hand.

genec

Like perhaps one too many regular close passes...

We all ride/commute in different places, in different conditions... what works for one cyclist in one place, may not be effective in another location. For instance ILTB mentioned his set up was for riding along a fast highway... and once he stopped commuting in those conditions, he felt that the extreme measures he used were no longer needed.

Other cyclists feel that riding in groups is the only safe method of ensuring that one is seen.

Still other cyclists choose to ignore the whole "be seen" situation, and instead just go ninja.

Bottom line, there is not yet any sort of approved standard; motorists have failed to see things as large as garbage trucks and plowed into those; so whatever one feels is needed, for your unique set of circumstances... all power to you.

As I stated earlier... I found no issue with carrying extra lights on my commute... as I was already looking for exercise... thus the weight of lighting and panniers was just more load for the workout.

BobbyG

Whatever makes you feel safe, if it does that, more power to you. For whatever reason this cyclist used automotive-style lights. I find it interesting as it suggests he's a vehicle like any other. I remember seeing a video a couple of years ago of a guy with flaming wads of something spinning in his spokes. Twenty-five years ago I began experimenting and building my own lighting. My two "achievements" were putting a $12 20-watt halogen bulb in a $4 Malibu yard lamp with a $20 alarm battery and a $10 charger which worked as well or better than store bought halogen lamps costing more than twice as much. I also took a 3-led rear blinkie and added a side facing LED on each side. When I started riding a lightweight road bike six years ago, lightweight LED lights and better batteries made me revamp my lights in favor of carefully chosen, but inexpensive lights (except my main headlight, a 500-Lumen rechargeable LED with a nice wide pattern). I look for side visibility and battery life. I also now wear a rear blinkie and a small headlight on my helmet. When I went to outfit my new bike last month I found a $12 Nightrider rear blinkie withextra side facing LEDs, just like I built 20 years ago...only better.

kickstart

That's why we should evaluate our choices. Doing what's best for our circumstances is entirely different from falling into the trap of trying to cheat those circumstances or control our enviroment with the expectation of certain results.
If one feels the need to go over the top with "safety" devices, that should be a red flag that we need to reevaluate our choices.

Altair 4

Impressive. I, for one, would like to see that bad boy all lit up at night.

kickstart

Now that right there is a major red flag IMO.
Safety equipment isn't to make us "feel" safe, its to enhance the skills and confidence we possess, not compensate for the skills and confidence we lack.

BobbyG

Kickstart, you are correct. I should have said, "If it enhances your safety...more power to you." "Feeling safe" is not "being safe," and if it is a false sense of security, then it is dangerous.